Automatic self-loading conveyer



5.a? A a J. A. GABRIEL AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING CONVEYER Marcizh 24, 1942.

Filed Deo 19J Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAUTOMATIC SELF-LOADING CONVEYER Joseph A. Gabriel, Cleveland, OhioApplication December 19', 1940, Serial No. 370,871

(Cl. IBS- 11) 7 Claims.

The invention relates to self-loading conveyers, and particularly tothose of the endless belt type, and may be embodied in portable elevatorloaders adapted to be manually moved about on suitable wheels, or bypower means, and is particularly useful in coal yards, sand and gravelplants, and for handling earth, loose materials such as wood blocks,shavings and saw-dust, in coal mines, mills and various othersituations.

It is also adapted to be embodied in larger forms to be tractorpropelled, for various operations where it is applicable, and may bemodified to meet a large number of conditions for loading, or forexcavating operations, In' its present embodiment it is adapted for amodied excavating or loading operation where surface materials may betaken up from a slight depth and its modication for other uses will bereadily understood. It i-s an important object of the invention toprovide a good, tight endless conveyer and loader device which will beliable in a minimum degree to clogging or to wear by access of grit tothe operative parts. It is also an important aim to provide a loadingdevice which is adapted toV operate with high eiciency in cleaningfloors or ground surfaces upon which loose material may be stacked, sothat a minimum amount of material will be left in the loading operationof my invention.

It is also an important aim of the invention to enable a conveyer of thecharacter indicated to be constructed in an extremely rugged and durableform, yet involving a minimum of weight, and requiring a minimum ofpower for its operation. A related advantage is to enable theconstruction of the machine with an extremely simple design in theoperative parts and framing, to the end that a minimum of cost will beinvolved in the embodiment, as well as a minimum liability ofderangement, and attainment of great ease in servicing and repairs.

A further aim of the invention is to present such a device which isadapted to use readily in the handling of light or heavy materialswithout modification. A further object is to present a novel shovelelement and operative means therefor, by which scraping or excavatingoperations may be conducted. A further aim is to present a novelconstruction for the exclusion of dust from the operative parts of sucha device. A further important aim is to present a novel construction ofconveyer chain and mounting for shovel elements and their operation insuch a device. It is also an important aim to evolve a novel combinationand coordination of a belt supporting plate, belt conveyer and endlesschain shovel device.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from thefollowing description and accompanying drawing,vWherein- Figure l is aside elevation of a hand-propelled loader, adapted to bepowerdriven,'and embodying my invention, portions being Vbroken away toshow positions of the shovel on the ascending and descending reaches.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the loading end of theconveyor. Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

There is illustrated a wheeled truck l0, supporting an endless conveyerframe I l, which may include an electric motor power means il of anyfamiliar type. not illustrated in detail but which may be incorporatedat any convenient point on the frame or truck, in accordance withapproved practices, If desired, handles I2 may be provided at convenientpoints for shifting the device, or other means provided for its movingor transportation. The weight of the conveyer frame, motor and drive,may be so disposed as to cause one end to set upon the ground, calledthe loading end, as at I3, while the body of the frame is inclinedtherefrom upwardly toward a` discharge end, at which a delivery spout I4may be provided, or not, as desired.

The frame work of the machine includes two main side frame members l5,of identical form except they comprise right and left members, and thesehave suitable bearings I6 at their upper ends and Il at their lowerends, the latter being illustrated in detail in Figures 3 and 4. As theconstruction of the framing and conveyer mounting and drive means aresimilar at each end of the frame, except for the adaptation of theloading end to engage closely upon the ground, while the discharge endhas the spout M before described, only the mounting end construction ofthe parts at the loading end will be described, and operativeconnections with the conveyer carrying sprockets and rollers may be madeat either or both ends, in accordance with approved practices in suchappliances, these details being not illustrated, since they comprise nonew or novel feature of my invention.

Each of the side members l5 in the present instance extends continuouslyfrom the loading end to the discharge end, but it is discretionary toomit certain guide channels and cam channels over portions of the lengthof these members, if desired, and is found practicable. In the presentinstance, however, the side members are constructed to enclose anendless chain element to be described, with certain operating cranks andshovel trunnions completely, throughout the orbit of these elements.

Each side member comprises a main inner, and in the present instance,vertical channel wall I8, upon the upper edge of which there is extendeddivergently outward aprons or hopper, plates I9, the opposed walls I8and I9 at opposite sides of the device constituting a main conveyerchannel 20. At the lower end of the frame a suitable recess 2| is formedin each side member, in which there is formed a bearing box 22, bushedto form the bearing the inner portion of which stops outwardly of theplane of the wall I8 a distance, and revolubly mounted in the opposedbearings there is a main lower conveyer shaft 23.

From this recess to the upper end of the conveyer which may becorrespondingly formed, there are upper and lower belt and chainaccommodating channels 24, and outwardly of these in turn, acommunicating cam channel 25, in a plane parallel to the wall I8, butdiverging from the tangent dimension inwardly or outwaldly, as the casemay be, for the purposes of operation of shovel elements, also to besubsequently described. Fixed on the shaft 23 immediately adjacent thebearing 22, there is a sprocket 26, upon which a chain 2`| is engaged,travellingr in the channel 24, and conforming to conventional chainconstruction, with the exception that at proper intervals certain of thelinks are formed with outwardly extending lugs 2T carrying a bearingportion 28, in which there are engaged the trunnion portions 29 ofrocking shovels 3G mounted in the channel 29. Inwardly of the sprocket26 a roller cylinder 3| is nxed on the shaft 23, its periphery extendingoutwardly into the channel 24 a distance, so as to underlie the wall I8.Engaged snugly around the roller 3| there is an endless belt 32, andsuitably mounted between the side members I5, supporting plates 33 areprovided, upon which the upper reach of the belt may slide and besupported in proper form. The belt is thereby supported in closerelation to the path of the shovels, as will appear. In alinement withthe chain, there are upper and lower guide and support flanges 34 and35, formed integrally on the side members I at the upper and lower sidesof the channel 24, the flange 35 being aligned with the body peripheryof the sprockets so as to receive the chain slidably as it leaves thesprockets. The links and lugs 21 may project on each side of these guideflanges and the sprocket body, so as to be retained securely in aplaniform course. As before indicated, the flanges 34 and 35 with thechain are spaced slightly outwardly from the plane of the wall I8, andthe latter is formed with a lower edge portion of smoothly finished faceat 3B, this being over and parallel to the belt. A continuous closurebelt 3'| is engaged between the face 36 of the wall |8 and the belt,forming a closure between the channels and the channels 24, both at theupper and lower sides of the machine. The trunnions 29 pass through thisbelt with a suitable bearing or bushing 38 to reduce friction. Theclosure belt 3l may be of any suitable flexible material, and may beresistant to deterioration by oil and the like, for the purpose ofpreserving long life and conning oil, if desired.

The trunnions 29 project through the bearings 28 outwardly a distance,and have fixed thereon crank arms 39 which are extended forwardly in thedirection of movement of the conveyer in the present instance, and haveat their outer ends wiper rollers 40 set in the cam channel 25 at eachside of the machine.

The shovel elements 30 are nearly or quite planiform plates, althoughthey may be suitably tapered or otherwise shaped to improve theirfunction and strength, in the present instance their outer edges beingapproximately rectilinear and horizontal while their inner portions nextthe belt are considerably thickened and formed with a hub portion 4|substantially cylindrical, and concentric with trunnions 29 of eachshovel element, the blade portion 3|) extending at a tangent to the hub.The arms 39 of each shovel element are extended on a radius of the huband trunnion at a great angle to the plane of the shovel, which may bemore or less, according to the requirement, but in the present instance,is a little short of degrees. The arms being projected forwardly in thedirection of progress of the conveyer, therefore, inward or outwardmovement of the wiper rollers thereon will move the shovel bladesinwardly or outwardly, correspondingly. The cam channels 25 at the lowerside of the side members E5 are located relatively close to the path ofthe lower reach of the belt, with the result that the shovel blades aredrawn upwardly to a minimum projection away from the belt. At the lowerend of the machine, the channel at each side is downwardly curved,slightly, as at 42, this curve being calculated in relation to the anglebetween the normal course of the lower reach of the belt in approachingthe roller 3|, and the horizontal, so that as each shovel approaches theroller 3| its outer edge is slightly raised progressively, so that itsresultant movement is horizontal until the axis of the hub reaches aradius of the roller 3| coincident with the beginning of the tangent onwhich the belt approaches the roller 3|. At this point the channel 25 isdivergent from a concentric path around the shaft 23, so that the outerend of the shovels is moved progressively outward to a maximumprojection which is approximately radial to the roller 3| a shortdistance outwardly of the point at which the hub of the shovel begins tomove on a tangent upwardly -from the roller, from which point thechannel 25 is slightly convergent to the plane of the belt, so that theshovels are drawn slightly inwardly again, to the angle shown at theupper side of Figure 4. From this point, the channel 25 is parallel tothe belt, so that these shovels are retained in this fixed relation tothe plane of the belt until they reach the upper end of the conveyer,where the channel 25 may be given a similar form in relation to the axisof the upper roller of the conveyer, if desired, as will be understoodfrom the description given. This is discretionary, and the convolutionsof the channel 25 may be variously formed as required, to facilitate thedischarge of material from the shovels, and to draw the shovels inwardlyin close relation to the belt at its lower reach, as described.

In accordance with the movement of the shovels as last described, thevertical portion of the wall I8 may be decreased in radius toward itslower portion, to correspond to the radius of the outer edges of theshovels, as indicated at 46, and the apron portion I9 may be extendedfurther therefrom than at the upper part, as indicated at 4l', althoughit may be more or less extended or otherwise shaped and formed tofacilitate entry of material between the side members of the machine asit is advanced, as discretion may dictate.

In the normal construction of this machine for simple loadingoperations, the machine is advanced with the forward end portion of theside members resting slidably upon the oor or ground surface as thematerial to be loaded is encountered, and it is pressed into thematerial piled or scattered before it and moved progressively forwardwhile the operating motor drives the conveyer to move the upper reachupwardly between the members l5. This results in any small quantities ofmaterial scattered upon the floor or ground being pushed forward by theshovels as they move slidably at the lower portion of their path, andparticles or portions of the encountered material will slide inwardlyupon the shovels and be lifted thereby and carried upwardly closeagainst the belt, the shovels forming in conjunction with the belt andthe side walls I8 respective pockets in which a considerable amount ofmaterial may be held. As the machine is pressed forwardly, in case allof the encountered material is not lifted directly upon the shovels,that portion which is pushed forward in advance of the shovels as themachine moves forward, may pile up in front of the machine, and soafford a stop for the material immediately engaged by the shovels and acertain amount of that in the upper piled up portion will be lifted asthe shovels move upwardly. If the machine is pressed forwardly intoloose material with considerable force or speed, it will tend to pile upthe material higher and result in a heavier loading of the conveyer.Should it be desired to use the device for excavating purposes, as forlifting weathered clay from a surface, the channel 25 may becorrespondingly formed at its lower part to throw the blades downwardlybelow the side members I to the desired extent, so that they will scrapeas deeply as is desired and lift the removed surface material to thepoint for discharge into a truck or dump car, as indicated formally at48 in Figure 1. Various other uses of the machine will suggestthemselves to those considering this disclosure, and it will beunderstood that while I have shown a specific construction andproportion of elements and mechanisms, these are purely exemplary, andvarious changes in construction, arrangement and combination of partsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as moreparticularly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A conveyer of the character described comprising a frame having sidemembers constructed to form a channel therebetween and having ro-llersmounted at respective ends thereof` a supported endless belt engagedaround the rollers,

the side members having channels therein conforming to the path of thebelt, an endless chain element mounted in said channel, sprocketmounting for the chain, said chain having a plurality of transversebearings, shaft elements mounted in the chains at each side of themachine, blade elements on the shafts extending in close relation to thebelt outwardly and rockable on said shaft elements from positions closeto the belt to extended position, said shaft elements having crank armsat their outer parts, cam channels formed in the side members, andwipers on the crank engaged in said cam channels, for the purposesdescribed.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the side walls of said channel stopshort of the belt, and endless flexible members extending between saidside walls and the belt as a closure, receiving said shaft elementsrevolubly therethrough.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said channels in the side memberinclude guide flanges receiving said bearing elements of the chainslidably therebetween.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an endlessbelt conveyerhaving a receiving end, a continuous plate for support of the beltcomprising side members stopping short of the outer face of the belt,and endless exible members movable with the belt and engaged betweensaid side members and the belt, said blades having mounting shaftelements extended revolubly through the said flexible closure elements,an endless chain mounted for movement in a path closely approximatingthat of the belt and having said shaft elements revolubly mountedthereon, and means to rock the shaft constructed to project the bladesprogressively beginning at a predetermined lower part of the movement ofthe conveyer belt and to retract the blades before their return to saidparts of the movement of the belt.

5. In apparatus of the character described, an endless belt conveyerhaving a receiving end, a continuous plate for support of the beltcomprising side members stopping short of the outer face of the belt, anendless flexible member movable with the belt at each side and engagedbetween said side members and the belt, said blades having mountingshaft elements extended revolubly through the said flexible closureelements, an endless chain mounted for movement in a path closelyapproximating that of the belt and having said shaft element revolublymounted, thereon, and means to rock the shaft constructed to project theblades progressively beginning at a predetermined lower part of themovement of the conveyer belt and to retract the blades before theirreturn to said parts of the movement of the belt, said means to rock theblades consisting of respective crank elements on said shaft elements, acam groove in the side member of the conveyor mounting and a wiperroller on the crank engaged in the groove, for the purposes described.

6. In a machine of the class described, a plate supported endless beltconveyer, an endless chain member mounted for movement in a path closelyapproximating the belt, means to move the belt and chain synchronouslyin the same direction,A

a plurality of blade elements pivoted on the chain extendingtransversely of the belt, a cam device located close beside the path ofthe chain, said cam device consisting of a side member in the conveyerhaving a cam channel thereon, an eccentric device fixed with relation toeach of the blades and having an arm extended at a considerable angle tothe mean plane of the respective blade and having a wiper thereonextended laterally into said channel, the distance of said cam channelfrom a projection of the path of the chain being varied, whereby thewiper will swing on the axis of the said shaft element and so move theblades, and being positioned so as to retract the blades approaching aterminal portion of the conveyer and project the same for movement in ahorizontal direction at their outer parts ya distance, and thendivergently with respect to said belt to a desired final extendedposition, for the purposes described.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said blade elements aresubstantially planiform, shovel-like members and the conveyer deviceincludes side members with walls closely adjacent the blades, to form achannel, whereby the blades, the plate, supported belt and said sidemembers will form pockets, for the purposes described.

JOSEPH A. GABRIEL.

